The fourth appointed by his office was
Poore prisoners to relieve with gratious ayd, And captives to redeeme with price of bras
From Turkes and Sarazins, which them had stayd; And though they faulty were, yet all he wayd. That God to us forgiveth every howre
Much more then that why they in bands were layd; And he, that harrowd Hell with heavy stowre, The faulty soules from thence brought to his hea- venly bowre.
The fift had charge sick persons to attend, And comfort those in point of death which lay; For them most needeth comfort in the end, When Sin, and Hell, and Death, doe most dismay The feeble soule departing hence away.
All is but lost, that living we bestow,
If not well ended at our dying day.
O man! have mind of that last bitter throw; For as the tree does fall, so lyes it ever low.
The sixt had charge of them now being dead, In seemely sort their corses to engrave, And deck with dainty flowres their brydall bed, That to their heavenly Spouse both sweet and brave They might appeare, when he their soules shall save. The wondrous workmanship of Gods owne mould, Whose face he made all beastes to feare, and gave All in his hand, even dead we honour should. Ah, dearest God, me graunt, I dead be not defould!
The seventh, now after death and buriall done, Had charge the tender orphans of the dead And wydowes ayd, least they should be undone :
In face of iudgement he their right would plead, Ne ought the powre of mighty men did dread In their defence; nor would for gold or fee Be wonne their rightly causes downe to tread: And, when they stood in most necessitee, He did supply their want, and gave them ever free
There when the Elfin knight arrived was, The first and chiefest of the seven, whose care Was guests to welcome, towards him did pas; Where seeing Mercie, that his steps upbare And alwaies led, to her with reverence rare He humbly louted in meeke lowlinesse, And seemely welcome for her did prepare: For of their order she was patronesse, Albe Charissa were their chiefest founderesse.
There she awhile him stayes, himselfe to rest, That to the rest more hable he might be : During which time, in every good behest, And godly worke of almes and charitee, Shee him instructed with great industree. Shortly therein so perfect he became, That, from the first unto the last degree, His mortall life he learned had to frame In holy righteousnesse, without rebuke or blame.
Thence forward by that painful way they pas Forth to an hill, that was both steepe and hy; On top whereof a sacred chappell was, And eke a little hermitage thereby, Wherein an aged holy man did lie, That day and night said his devotion, Ne other worldly busines did apply;
ery living wight
Heaven to attaine? hat leadeth right
that glistreth bright rliving fire, hand behight
ee require,
cording his desire."
en the father grave, steady hand doth lead, all soule to save!
Heaven aread
both borne and bred
usand angels shine?
righteous sead
leasure shal be donne. th, and see the way, Faries sonne;
nd endlesse blis.
Gist and pray,
he highest mount;
ty man of God,
a walled front
His name was Hevenly Contemplation;
Of God and goodness was his meditation.
Great grace that old old man to him given had; For God he often saw from Heavens hight: All were his earthly eien both blunt and bad, And through great age had lost their kindly sight, Yet wondrous quick and persaunt was his spright, As eagles eie, that can behold the Sunne.
That hill they scale with all their powre and might, That his fraile thighes, nigh weary and fordonne, Gan faile; but, by her helpe the top at last he
There they doe finde that godly aged sire, With snowy lockes adowne his shoulders shed; As hoary frost with spangles doth attire The mossy braunches of an oke halfe ded. Each bone might through his body well be red, And every sinew seene, through his long fast : For nought he car'd his carcas long unfed; His mind was full of spirituall repast,
And pyn'd his flesh to keep his body low and chast.
Who, when these two approaching he aspide, At their first presence grew agrieved sore, That forst him lay his heavenly thoughts aside; And had he not that dame respected more, Whom highly he did reverence and adore, He would not once have moved for the knight. They him saluted, standing far afore;
Who, well them greeting, humbly did requight, And asked, to what end they clomb that tedious hight?
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